RUNNING: 'Mad' Anthony Half doubles in size from 2012

It was deja vu for Mark Eissens. Two years after winning the 30K Gut Check, Eissens won the 2nd annual “Mad” Anthony Half-Marathon race that began and ended on Center Square in Waynesboro.

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Waynesboro Record Herald - Waynesboro, PA

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Posted Sep. 16, 2013 at 12:00 PM

Posted Sep. 16, 2013 at 12:00 PM

WAYNESBORO — It was deja vu for Mark Eissens.

Two years after winning the 30K Gut Check, Eissens won the 2nd annual “Mad” Anthony Half-Marathon race that began and ended on Center Square in Waynesboro.

In an event that saw the number of registered runners double from a year ago, Eissens led pretty much from start to finish, receiving a good run for his money from runner up Stephen Starliper, who finished just a second behind Eissens.

Susan Gray Graham was the overall female winner. The 45-year-old runner, who finished fifth overall, completed the course in 1:24:33.

Andrea Stone was second overall among female runners, while Dani Mason was third, Lauren Meckley of Waynesboro was fourth and Erin Walshkirkman was fifth.

“It’s a big event,” Eissens said after the race, not even appearing to be winded from an event that featured a fairly steep climb up Mentzer Gap Road in Washington Township. “I was jogging along until it was time to go.”

The time to go for Eissens was after the climb up Mentzer Gap Road as Starliper closed the gap and caught up to Eissens.

Eissens, 33, was one of 72 runners from Maryland to register for Saturday’s half-marathon. He is not a “circuit” runner — those who compete in numerous running events throughout the year. Instead, he runs once in a while. Now that his wife is pregnant, he said he might not be able to run much in the foreseeable future.

“She told me if I want to run, I’d better run now,” Eissens said.

There were 206 registered runners from Pennsylvania, 11 from Virginia, four from West Virginia, three from Ohio and one each from New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Wisconsin and Texas.